Healthy and optimistic

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Mike Weir has a new coach, a new swing, is over his back troubles and expects to be back in the winner's circle.

"I feel a win is just around the corner,'' the seven-time PGA Tour winner says.

"My expectations are to win. I want to win, whether it's once, twice or five times. I want to start winning again.''

Weir has been in a slump since 2004. He won the Masters in 2003 and has US$19 million in career earnings.

The Bright's Grove native was on his way to winning the Canadian Open the final day in 2004 when a fan at Glen Abbey in Oakville grabbed his right shoulder as he walked from the 10th green to the 11th tee.

Almost immediately, Weir felt pain affecting his swing.

Vijay Singh defeated Weir in a playoff for the championship.

Weir has said that since that incident, the pain in his shoulder moved into his neck and lower back.

Sometimes the pain made it difficult for him to get comfortable over the ball on his setup and curtailed his practice routine.

New coaches Mike Bennett and Andy Plummer have been working with Weir since November building a new swing around the back problems.

"I've had no injury symptoms from the first time in a few years,'' he said. "In other years, I was so sore I couldn't hit balls. Now I'm able to work hard and practise.''

Weir said there is no time frame on wining.

"Tiger (Woods) went through this and it took him a while before he started seeing the benefits again. Any time you make a change, it is not going to be easy and you are not going to feel comfortable right away.